Comint - More Technical Definitions of SIGINT and Its Branches

More Technical Definitions of SIGINT and Its Branches

In the United States and other nations involved with NATO, signals intelligence is defined as:

  • A category of intelligence comprising either individually or in combination all communications intelligence (COMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), and foreign instrumentation signals intelligence, however transmitted.
  • Intelligence derived from communications, electronic, and foreign instrumentation signals.

The JCS definition may overemphasize "foreign instrumentation signals". That part should be considered in combination with measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT), which is closely linked to foreign instrumentation such as telemetry or radio navigation. An ELINT sensor may find a radar, and then cue (i.e., guide) a COMINT sensor for listening in on the talk between the radar and its remote users. A nonspecific SIGINT sensor can cue a Frequency Domain MASINT sensor that can help identify the purpose of the signal. If MASINT cannot identify the signal, then the intelligence organization may task an IMINT aircraft or satellite to take a picture of the source, so photo interpreters can try to understand its functions.

Being a broad field, SIGINT has many sub-disciplines. The two main ones are communications intelligence (COMINT) and electronic intelligence (ELINT). There are, however, some techniques that can apply to either branch, as well as to assist FISINT or MASINT.

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